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Guthrie Center City Council lowers speed limits on Bluff and School streets

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

At the Feb. 24 meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council, the second reading of the proposed ordinance to lower the speed limit on Bluff Street and School Street from 35 mph to 25 mph was held. No councilmember indicated hearing significant feedback against the proposed change.

Councilmember Garold Thomas said he is in favor of the change, for safety reasons, especially for Bluff Street.

“On the road up there by the hospital, there’s always somebody walking along there, and there’s no sidewalk,” Thomas said. “Those are the only two roads in town that haven’t been 25 mph.”

The council unanimously approved the second reading, waived the third reading, and adopted Ordinance 25-02 to make the speed limit change official. New speed limit signs will be posted as soon as available.

The council appointed 2025 Aquatic Center committee members Alan Mahaffey, Kari Carroll, Dana Stein and Megan Railsback.

Dr. Steven Bascom addressed the council on behalf of the library board regarding the library budget. He explained that the board is asking to implement a $1.50 hourly wage increase for library staff, to match the increase for other city employees. After discussion, the council approved an increase of 75 cents per hour.

The council set a public hearing regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 property tax levy. The hearing will be Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m., immediately prior to the regular council meeting.

The next regular meeting of the council will be Monday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

No. 13 ACGC beats Central Decatur, 66-46, faces No. 1 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont for regional championship

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

The No. 13 ACGC girls basketball team defeated Central Decatur (14-9) at home on Friday, Feb. 21, to advance to the Class 2A Region 1 championship game. ACGC took an early 22-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and did not look back. Four Chargers reached double digit scoring in the game. Shay Lemke led with 16 points, adding five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Karli Kautzky scored 15 points with three steals. Becca Little and Camdyn Richter scored 11 points each. Little nearly had a double-double with nine steals. Richter was close behind with seven steals. ACGC’s defense was a huge factor in the win. The Chargers tallied 30 total steals, their highest count this season. The win sends ACGC into a clash with fellow ranked team, No. 1 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (23-0), on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The Rockets have not lost all season and are averaging a point differential of 32.7. EBF is led by a solid class of seniors. The senior scoring duo of Molly Shafer (22.6 points per game) and Ava Eastlick (18.1 PPG) is likely to give ACGC’s steal-happy defense a challenge. ACGC leading rebounders Richter (7.3 rebounds per game) and Stella Largent (6.6 RPG) will fight for boards against Kate Shafer (8.9 RPG). Lemke (5.8 assists per game) and Kate Shafer (5.9 APG) are two of Class 2A’s best distributers. There will be plenty of matchups to watch in this one as these ranked teams attempt to qualify for the state tournament.

 

 

Game against Earlham on Feb. 18
Photos by Mark Reno
Click images to enlarge

 

Game against Central Decatur on Feb. 21
Photos by Mark Reno
Click images to enlarge

No. 5 Chargers face IKM-Manning for district title tomorrow night

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

No. 5 ACGC (21-2) will face IKM-Manning (12-11) on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Audubon Community School. IKM-Manning will look to its leading scorer, Ben Ramsey, if they hope to pull off the upset. Ramsey is averaging 21.7 points per game. Besides Ramsey, the Wolves’ scoring options are limited. ACGC, on the other hand, has four players averaging double digits: Jathan South at 19.1 ppg, Noah Kading at 14 ppg, Payton Policky at 13.9 ppg and Joe Crawford at 11.9 ppg. These two teams have only played three times since 2010. ACGC came away victorious in the most recent game in 2023, 78-64. ACGC’s current crop of seniors were featured in that game. As sophomores, South scored 14 points, Policky grabbed six rebounds and Kading dished out six assists.

Game against Audubon on Feb. 20
Photos by Mark Reno
Click images to enlarge